JDM cars no rear foglight - Possible soloution?

projectgtr

This is going to sound like a strange thought and at the minute its just that a thought.

Basically my car is a Japanese import which does not have a rear foglight, only lately during heavy fog have i thought i really need to sort it out. The last time i was on the motorway in heavy fog i seen a motorway maintaince vehicle parked up in the in the hard shoulder.

He would have been twice the distance from me than the furthest car i could clearly see using a rear foglight, the reason for this was his indicators had integrated LED strobes that were bright (not blinding or distracting) which leads me to my next question.

Would this be suitable for use for my own car as i have access to a a set of bulbs and control box, the idea would be to integrate them into the rear (left and right) of my brake light cluster.

Now a couple of questions, like i said this is only a thought
What would the legality of it be? being red i cant see an issue but i could be wrong??
Would you deem them safe for other road users? as they would draw attention to my car in heavy fog without blinding

Im only looking for constructive posts i could have posted this in the modifed car section but i would like to know what other road users would think on the , positive or negative i dont mind once they are constructive

Thanks in advance

andyseadog

i've never missed the (lack of) rear fog light in my JDM car.

do they just not have fog in Japan or what?

i wont comment on your idea, i hard a foglight debate coming on.

Nissan doctor

projectgtr wrote: »

This is going to sound like a strange thought and at the minute its just that a thought.

Basically my car is a Japanese import which does not have a rear foglight, only lately during heavy fog have i thought i really need to sort it out. The last time i was on the motorway in heavy fog i seen a motorway maintaince vehicle parked up in the in the hard shoulder.

He would have been twice the distance from me than the furthest car i could clearly see using a rear foglight, the reason for this was his indicators had integrated LED strobes that were bright (not blinding or distracting) which leads me to my next question.

Would this be suitable for use for my own car as i have access to a a set of bulbs and control box, the idea would be to integrate them into the rear (left and right) of my brake light cluster.

Now a couple of questions, like i said this is only a thought
What would the legality of it be? being red i cant see an issue but i could be wrong??
Would you deem them safe for other road users? as they would draw attention to my car in heavy fog without blinding

Im only looking for constructive posts i could have posted this in the modifed car section but i would like to know what other road users would think on the , positive or negative i dont mind once they are constructive

Thanks in advance

A stobing light, red or not, is going to be much more of a distraction to other road users IMO. If the fog was thick people would be slow down/brake when they see the strobe as they wouldn't know what it was..

Gary ITR

What about integrating one into the bumper a la the UKDM ITR?

projectgtr

andyseadog wrote: »

i've never missed the (lack of) rear fog light in my JDM car.

do they just not have fog in Japan or what?

i wont comment on your idea, i hard a foglight debate coming on.

not sure if its every JDM car, I know in the UK you need to fit one by law for it to pass MOT but no requirement over here, i believe the NCT just work on the basis that well if it has one it has to work :rolleyes:

Nissan doctor

andyseadog wrote: »

i've never missed the (lack of) rear fog light in my JDM car.

do they just not have fog in Japan or what?

i wont comment on your idea, i hard a foglight debate coming on.

They have fog, but like many other countries outside Ireland, they also have a motoring public with a much better grasp of common sence behind the wheel!

projectgtr

Nissan doctor wrote: »

A stobing light, red or not, is going to be much more of a distraction to other road users IMO. If the fog was thick people would be slow down/brake when they see the strobe as they wouldn't know what it was..

thanks for the input thats the part i was unsure about

Onkle wrote: »

What about integrating one into the bumper a la the UKDM ITR?

never , no seriously ill just integrate standard Foglight setup into my cluster, i dont feel 100% without one after seeing some of the serious fog ive been through lately

peasant

yours for 10.95 at Amazon

Gary ITR

projectgtr wrote: »

never , no seriously ill just integrate standard Foglight setup into my cluster, i dont feel 100% without one after seeing some of the serious fog ive been through lately

You know I can ban you from here right :pac:

Is the foglight on the UK spec EK's in the cluster?

projectgtr

peasant wrote: »

yours for 10.95 at Amazon

i was waiting for that

Like i said ill put the OEM European fog integration into the rear cluster, i definitely will not put that on my car

I was just thinking outside the box and wanted some opinions on it

projectgtr

Onkle wrote: »

You know I can ban you from here right :pac:

Is the foglight on the UK spec EK's in the cluster?

Making threats like that is a banable offence, think it brings with it a lifetime IP ban :P

it sure is , i wouldnt deface my bumper with something non OEM

andyseadog

projectgtr wrote: »

not sure if its every JDM car, I know in the UK you need to fit one by law for it to pass MOT but no requirement over here, i believe the NCT just work on the basis that well if it has one it has to work :rolleyes:

exactly, i was unsure if i had to fit one for the NCT, but it passed without.

dylbert

My car's JDM and has rear fog lights, factory fitted, I think it's an optional extra on most JDM cars, they just don't see the need for them.

projectgtr

dylbert wrote: »

My car's JDM and has rear fog lights, factory fitted, I think it's an optional extra on most JDM cars, they just don't see the need for them.

99% of the time i agree, but its that 1% when the fog is really thick that normal lights dont do the job and a rear fog is needed imo

-Chris-

IMHO, if I was driving in fog and I saw a red strobe up ahead I'd slow down (i.e. brake quite strongly) because I'd presume something was wrong up ahead.

I don't think I'd be alone, and I'm sure there are more nervous drivers who'd brake harder.

I'd say you'd cause more accidents than you'd save tbh.

projectgtr

-Chris- wrote: »

IMHO, if I was driving in fog and I saw a red strobe up ahead I'd slow down (i.e. brake quite strongly) because I'd presume something was wrong up ahead.

I don't think I'd be alone, and I'm sure there are more nervous drivers who'd brake harder.

I'd say you'd cause more accidents than you'd save tbh.

thanks for the input chris, this is what i wanted to know, my reaction was just that it drew my attention but i wanted to hear other opinions, im thinking the word strobe was probably a bad choice of words, but more a fast on off LED like what is used in F1 during heavy rain etc

-Chris-

No, I can picture it, it's like the LED strobes they have on the back of the vans that fix traffic lights etc. They normally flash a pattern (i.e. in triplets or something).

Seeing one up ahead would make me presume there's a work vehicle. Seeing one in the driving or overtaking lane would make me presume there's debris on the road, a crash ahead or some other crisis.

Some folks might reckon it's a bicycle and slam on too :eek:

Conor_M1990

Its a civic you have isnt it OP put the ukdm foglight cluster in the lights

challengemaster

UKDM ITR foglights look like crap, what eejit would suggest that :pac:

cronin_j would know the technicalities / legal aspect better than anyone on here, but as far as I know the only flashing lights allowed on civilian cars are the indicators.

I kinda like the idea, but I think you should just go with regular LED lights.

challengemaster

challengemaster wrote: »

cronin_j would know the technicalities / legal aspect better than anyone on here

how so ?

challengemaster

RoverJames wrote: »

how so ?

because the guy knows more about road traffic legislation than most gardaí

Tefral

You are not permitted to have a flashing light other than that of a directional indicator on your car.

Have a look at section 42 of the Lighting of Vehicles act 1963, im on the phone at the moment and cant dig the exact wording out. I know its section 42 though.

Think it says you cannont have a flashing light other than an indicator unless its invisable to those outside your vehicle.

I also think its section 48 that says you cant have a light that misleads other road users. Having read Chris' post above i think youll find that having a flashing fog lamp would mislead the average road user as a fog lamp is normally just a constant bright light, flashing lights normally mean extreme caution or danger.

Del2005

cronin_j wrote: »

You are not permitted to have a flashing light other than that of a directional indicator on your car.

Have a look at section 42 of the Lighting of Vehicles act 1963, im on the phone at the moment and cant dig the exact wording out. I know its section 42 though.

Think it says you cannont have a flashing light other than an indicator unless its invisable to those outside your vehicle.

I also think its section 48 that says you cant have a light that misleads other road users. Having read Chris' post above i think youll find that having a flashing fog lamp would mislead the average road user as a fog lamp is normally just a constant bright light, flashing lights normally mean extreme caution or danger.

It's illegal to drive with any flashing lights, yes all the trucks and tow wagons are breaking the law.


OP/
When I had a JDM car if I was driving in fog I kept an extra look in the rear view mirrors. When I saw car lights approaching I'd tap the brakes to let the following car see my brake lights and after that it's up to them. Granted the brake lights where nearly as bright as some dips.

n97 mini

dylbert wrote: »

My car's JDM and has rear fog lights, factory fitted, I think it's an optional extra on most JDM cars, they just don't see the need for them.

Usually a sign the car was imported via the UK, where rear fog lights are a requirement.

OP, wire your outside 5w running light to take a 21w/5w combo bulb. Easy mod and you keep your factory look.

projectgtr

cronin_j wrote: »

You are not permitted to have a flashing light other than that of a directional indicator on your car.

Have a look at section 42 of the Lighting of Vehicles act 1963, im on the phone at the moment and cant dig the exact wording out. I know its section 42 though.

Think it says you cannont have a flashing light other than an indicator unless its invisable to those outside your vehicle.

I also think its section 48 that says you cant have a light that misleads other road users. Having read Chris' post above i think youll find that having a flashing fog lamp would mislead the average road user as a fog lamp is normally just a constant bright light, flashing lights normally mean extreme caution or danger.

Thanks bro, thats enough for me.OEM all the way, thanks for the input.

galwaytt

My 1990 JDM Mazda Eunos has a foglight switch.........and no foglight.

Has passed 4 NCT's so far.

Wetbench4

Some cars like the new volvos have EBL emergency brake lights function which mean the brake lights flash rapidly like a strobe if the pedal is hit hard enough. Wouldn't be much different to that

-Chris-

Yeah, but those are hazard lights, the hazard being somebody jamming on the brakes hard.

I don't think it compares to someone driving normally with a flashing light.

n97 mini

galwaytt wrote: »

My 1990 JDM Mazda Eunos has a foglight switch.........and no foglight.

That's probably for front fogs, which are a requirement in Japan afaik (all my JDM cars have had front fogs). Your's were possibly stolen on the boat over.

Del2005

Wetbench4 wrote: »

Some cars like the new volvos have EBL emergency brake lights function which mean the brake lights flash rapidly like a strobe if the pedal is hit hard enough. Wouldn't be much different to that

The EBL flashes the indicators not the brake lights. Watch some 5th Gear/Topgear circuit tests.

Even US spec cars imported into the EU now have to have orange indicators fitted and flashing brakes disconnected.

galwaytt

Wetbench4 wrote: »

Some cars like the new volvos have EBL emergency brake lights function which mean the brake lights flash rapidly like a strobe if the pedal is hit hard enough. Wouldn't be much different to that

I have had these on a few bikes: http://www.hyperlites.com/

Flashes a few times, then goes solid red. Handy in our dark/dank climes if you're a year-round biker.